Deutzia plant named ‘Mincream’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Deutzia  plant named ‘Mincream’, characterized by its compact, low spreading to trailing plant habit; variegated leaves that are green and pale yellow in color; freely flowering habit; white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Deutzia gracilis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MINCREAM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Deutziaplant, botanically known as Deutzia gracilis and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Mincream’.

The new Deutzia plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of anunnamed proprietary selection of Deutzia gracilis, not patented. The newDeutzia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a singleplant of the proprietary selection in a controlled outdoor nurseryenvironment in La Ménitré, Maine et Loire, France in July, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Deutzia plant by cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in La Ménitré, Maine et Loire, Francesince August, 2002 has shown that the unique features of this newDeutzia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Deutzia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Mincream’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Mincream’ as a new and distinct Deutzia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, low spreading to trailing plant habit.    -   2. Variegated leaves that are green and pale yellow in color.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. White-colored flowers.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Deutzia differ primarily from plants of the unnamedproprietary parent selection in leaf color as plants of the unnamedproprietary parent selection have non-variegated leaves.

Plants of the new Deutzia can also be compared to plants of Deutzialongifolia ‘Aurea’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conductedin La Ménitré, Maine et Loire, France, plants of the new Deutzia and‘Aurea’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Deutzia were more compact than plants of        ‘Aurea’.    -   2. Plants of the new Deutzia were low spreading to trailing        whereas plants of ‘Aurea’ were upright.    -   3. Plants of the new Deutzia and ‘Aurea’ differed in leaf color        as plants of ‘Aurea’ had green and darker yellow variegated        leaves.    -   4. Leaves of plants of the new Deutzia did not sunburn under        full sunlight conditions whereas leaves of plants of ‘Aurea’        sunburned under full sunlight conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Deutzia showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Deutzia.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Mincream’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Mincream’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in one-gallon containers during thesummer in an outdoor nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. and under commercialproduction practices. Plants were two years old when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Deutzia gracilis ‘Mincream’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed    proprietary selection of Deutzia gracilis, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, medium in thickness; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and habit.—Compact, low spreading to trailing            plant habit; vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about 18            lateral branches developing per plant.        -   Plant height.—About 25 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 35 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Internode length: About 1 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 197B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 4 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Serrulate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Center,            close to 147B; border, close to 160D and 158B. Fully            developed leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Center, close to            146A; border, close to 11D; venation, close to 147D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 147C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate flowers            arranged in terminal panicles; flowers face outwardly to            drooping; freely flowering habit with about 32 flowers            developing per inflorescence.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering for about            three to six weeks during the late spring in Michigan;            flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Shape: Oblong to elliptical. Color: Close to 155D.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 6 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 1 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Ovate            to oblong. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing petals,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 155D. Fully developed            petals, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 155D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl, fused towards the base. Length: About 2 mm. Width:            About 1 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Developing sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A;            towards the apex, close to 158B. Fully developed sepals,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A; towards the apex,            close to 158B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 0.7 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            146C.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            146C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            ten. Anther shape: Round. Anther length: About 0.5 mm.            Anther color: Close to 12C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 12C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: Three to            five. Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma            color: Close to 155D. Style length: About 4 mm. Style color:            Close to 155D. Ovary color: Close to 146A.        -   Seeds.—Size: Minute, dust-like. Color: Brownish.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Deutzia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Deutzia    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Deutzia have been observed to    have good garden performance.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Deutzia plant named ‘Mincream’ asillustrated and described.